Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Maharagama Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Maharagama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $528 per month in Ratnapura vs $472 in Maharagama, rent included.

A couple spends around $837 per month in Ratnapura vs $797 in Maharagama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,146 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,122 in Maharagama, rent included.

Ratnapura costs about 12% more than Maharagama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ratnapura and Maharagama are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 60% lower, Maharagama 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 LKR 704

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.98 LKR 3,323

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 LKR 2,277

Cappuccino

$2.32 LKR 773

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 LKR 288

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 161

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 LKR 748

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 979

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 LKR 687

$1.85 LKR 616

11.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 LKR 268

$0.52 LKR 174

53.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 LKR 228

$0.76 LKR 254

-9.21%

Eggs

$1.23 LKR 410

$2.02 LKR 674

-39.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.64 LKR 5,541

$15.86 LKR 5,282

4.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.04 LKR 2,346

$5.81 LKR 1,936

21.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.63 LKR 5,871

$11.04 LKR 3,677

59.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,549

$11.73 LKR 3,906

-60.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 255

$1.23 LKR 410

-38.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 LKR 1,555

$10.08 LKR 3,357

-53.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 LKR 347

$1.89 LKR 628

-44.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 LKR 376

$1.14 LKR 381

-0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 LKR 523

$1.15 LKR 382

36.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 LKR 175

$1.55 LKR 518

-65.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.58 LKR 193

-10.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.59 LKR 4,860

$9.87 LKR 3,288

47.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.75 LKR 4,247

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 LKR 780

$1.97 LKR 657

18.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 LKR 1,051

$3.21 LKR 1,068

-1.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 LKR 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.44 LKR 1,145

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 128

$0.34 LKR 114

14.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 161

$0.31 LKR 104

54.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 106

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 LKR 345

$1.38 LKR 460

-24.64%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.9K LKR 7.3M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$53.1 LKR 17.7K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.33 LKR 776

$3.28 LKR 1,091

-28.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.24 LKR 2,744

$12.43 LKR 4,140

-33.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.19 LKR 3,394

$13.16 LKR 4,383

-22.57%

Cinema Ticket

$2.72 LKR 907

$4.93 LKR 1,643

-44.83%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$66.6 LKR 22.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$494 LKR 164.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.57 LKR 3,851

$25.32 LKR 8,432

-54.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.57 LKR 2,853

$13.38 LKR 4,455

-35.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 LKR 30.8K

$55.9 LKR 18.6K

65.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.02 LKR 9,664

$59.8 LKR 19.9K

-51.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$83.0 LKR 27.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.3 LKR 19.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 LKR 54.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.1 LKR 31.7K

$119 LKR 39.5K

-19.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 LKR 55.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ratnapura: June 13, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: June 16, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ratnapura vs Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ratnapura is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $792 per month in Ratnapura and $708 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $528 in Ratnapura and $472 in Maharagama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Ratnapura – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $528 in Ratnapura and $472 in Maharagama, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Maharagama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Maharagama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ratnapura makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.